Victor Martinez takes his first swings of spring training on Monday in Lakeland, Fla.
Lakeland, Fla. — Nicholas Castellanos welcomed Victor Martinez to the clubhouse Monday with a big bear hug. Then he stepped back and asked him, “How’s the corazon?”
“Like this,” Martinez said. “Bump-bump, bump-bump, bump-bump.”
In perfect rhythm. And that is a good start for the 39-year-old Martinez, whose season was waylaid and ultimately ended by an irregular heartbeat last season. He had an ablation procedure in October and he said, knocking on wood, that his heart is in good working order and he’s ready to compete in the final year of his contract with the Tigers.